Bengaluru : Revenue Minister Mr R Ashoka observed ‘Black Day’ in front of the Freedom Park on Friday to mark the anniversary of the Emergency imposed in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During the visit, he recalled the horrific incidents of the Emergency Days.

“Following a call from Jayaprakash Narayan, I along with other student leaders protested at Yeshwanthpur circle condemning the imposition of Emergency. We were arrested and taken to the Bengaluru Central jail (which was located at the current Freedom park). I can recall the horror unleashed on us. When we entered the prison, we were given a blanket and an aluminum plate. We were made to sleep on the ground and provided minimal food. There was just one toilet for us. Even pregnant ladies were not spared from the Emergency horror. We had felt that there was literally no future for us. More than 5,000 to 6,000 people had lost their lives. We were inspired by senior leaders like LK Advani who were also arrested yet gave us hope to fight the Emergency. Only after the Congress was ousted from power, we were released. I feel that it was the second freedom struggle where we took part to restore democracy. Today, I offer condolences to all those people who lost their lives to police brutality during the Emergency days. When I was Home Minister, we converted the old Central jail as Freedom park. However, I ensured that a few old barracks where I was arrested could still be retained in the original form so that the future generation could have a witness of the Emergency horror”, Minister Ashoka added.